Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Kottayam Man Dies After Car Fire In Thiruvananthapuram
A car carrying Titus Kurian caught fire while moving in Venganoor early Monday morning.
The fire happened at about 5 to 5:30 a.m., according to the reports.
People nearby noticed the burning car and tried to get help.
An autorickshaw driver told the police, and firefighters put out the flames.
The car was badly destroyed, and Titus died inside it.
Police used CCTV and the car’s registration details to identify him.
Titus had left his home in Kottayam the night before after a reported quarrel with family members.
Investigators are checking whether the fire was an accident, a mechanical problem, or something more deliberate.
Titus Kurian, a man from Kottayam, died after his moving car caught fire in Venganoor early Monday.
Reports place the incident around 5 to 5:30 a.m. near Mahatma Ayyankali Smarakam.
An autorickshaw driver alerted police after witnessing the fire and a minor explosion, while another report said locals tried to rescue Kurian.
The vehicle was completely destroyed, and CCTV and registration details helped police identify Kurian.
Police are investigating possible suspicious circumstances, a mechanical fault, and the presence of inflammable materials; forensic tests and a postmortem are pending.
- Who
- Titus Kurian, a man from Kottayam whom police identified as the victim.
- What
- Kurian died after his moving car caught fire and was completely gutted.
- When
- Early Monday morning, reported as approximately 5:00 to 5:30 a.m.
- Where
- Near Mahatma Ayyankali Smarakam in Venganoor, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- The cause remains undetermined; police are examining possible suspicious circumstances, a mechanical fault, suicide, and the possible presence of inflammable materials.
Possible deliberate circumstances
Possible accidental cause
Cause of the fire
Possible deliberate circumstances
Police are probing a possible suicide angle and checking whether inflammable materials were present in the vehicle. One report also said Kurian had quarrelled with family members before leaving home.
Possible accidental cause
Authorities are also investigating whether a technical or mechanical fault caused the fire.
Rescue account
Possible deliberate circumstances
One report said an autorickshaw driver witnessed a minor explosion before alerting police, which may support the need to investigate suspicious circumstances.
Possible accidental cause
Another report said smoke began coming from the car while Kurian was driving and that locals and passersby tried to break open the rear door, a sequence consistent with a sudden vehicle fire.
- Victim
- Titus Kurian
- Reported residence
- Kottayam; reports variously identify Thelakom and Ettumanoor
- Time
- Approximately 5:00 to 5:30 a.m. on Monday
- Location
- Venganoor, Thiruvananthapuram
- Vehicle
- A moving car that caught fire and was completely destroyed
- Identification
- Police used CCTV and vehicle registration details before confirming Kurian’s identity
- Investigation
- Authorities are examining possible suspicious circumstances, mechanical failure, and inflammable materials
- Postmortem
- The body was sent to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College
